After two years of very deliberate, very public absence, Real Madrid are ready to return to football’s most glamorous awards night. According to a report from French publication L’Équipe, the club have decided to attend the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for Monday, 26 October in London, with several players from the squad expected to be present. The two-year boycott is officially over.
What Happened
Cast your mind back to October 2024. Vinícius Jr. had delivered a stunning season — Champions League winner, technically excellent, genuinely world-class by any fair measure — and the expectation inside the Bernabéu was that the Brazilian would finally claim the Ballon d’Or. When the envelope was opened, it was Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri whose name was read out. Real Madrid were furious.
President Florentino Pérez didn’t take it lying down. He made the executive decision to sever the club’s relationship with the award entirely, and Los Blancos sent zero representatives to that ceremony. When 2025’s edition came around, the boycott held firm — once again, not a single face from the Real Madrid family was seen in the audience. It was a statement, and the football world noticed.
Now, however, L’Équipe are reporting that Pérez and the club’s hierarchy have decided the time has come to move on. A delegation from Real Madrid will reportedly be in London on 26 October for this year’s ceremony. The club has not made a formal public announcement, but the word filtering through European media outlets strongly suggests the standoff is coming to an end.
What It Means for Real Madrid
This is about more than just showing up to a black-tie dinner. Real Madrid’s relationship with the Ballon d’Or has always been intertwined with the club’s identity. This is the club of Cristiano Ronaldo’s multiple Golden Balls, of Ronaldo Nazário, of Karim Benzema’s long-overdue 2022 triumph. Walking away from the ceremony — even in protest — always felt a little at odds with the club’s desire to remain at the absolute centre of football’s global conversation.
Returning now could signal a few things. It may suggest that Real Madrid feel they have a genuine contender this year, and that the optics of staying away when one of your own players might win the prize would be counterproductive. It could also simply reflect a pragmatic shift in approach from Pérez — the point was made, loudly and clearly, and holding the grudge indefinitely was starting to look more stubborn than principled.
From a broader perspective, Real Madrid’s squad remains one of the most star-studded in world football. With Kylian Mbappé now firmly embedded in the setup following his high-profile arrival from PSG, and Vinícius Jr. continuing to be one of the most dynamic attackers on the planet, the club has every reason to want its players celebrated on the biggest stages — including the Ballon d’Or.
What’s Next for the Madridistas to Watch
For supporters, the ceremony on 26 October in London is now worth circling on the calendar. If Real Madrid are sending a delegation, there’s clearly belief within the club that the night could go in their favour — or at the very least, that their players deserve recognition and shouldn’t be denied their moment in the spotlight due to an institutional disagreement.
The Ballon d’Or has always sparked debate, passion, and no shortage of outrage among football fans — and Real Madrid fans perhaps more than most. After two years of watching from the outside, the Madridistas will now get to be part of the conversation again. Whether that ends in celebration or frustration on the night remains to be seen, but at least Los Blancos will be in the room.
Whatever your view on whether the boycott was the right call, one thing is certain: when Real Madrid shows up, everyone pays attention. London on the 26th just got a lot more interesting.
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For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.